9:57 PM IST Jos Buttler remains a “vital” member of the England team, according to his captain, Joe Root, and the national selector, Ed Smith. Buttler’s position has started to come under scrutiny after a year in which he has averaged 21.26 from 12 Tests. But both Root and Smith have defended Buttler’s longer-term record and insisted he contributes more to the team than is represented on the scorecard. “Jos…
9:51 PM IST ESPNcricinfo staff Ehsan Mani, the PCB chairman, believes inviting foreign players would make country’s domestic structure more robust and competitive. While it’s still unclear if a new ruling is being worked out, there are existing provisions to invite and register guest players with teams in the circuit. While financial viability has been seen as a hindrance for teams when it comes to signing overseas talent, there have…
9:12 PM IST Jason Holder, West Indies’ captain, has thrown his “full support” behind Shai Hope as the tourists contemplate whether to make changes for the deciding Test of the series against England. Hope has scored 57 runs in four innings with Phil Simmons, the team’s head coach, admitting that he was concerned by the batsman’s lack of form after defeat in the second Test. Since his twin hundreds at…
8:59 PM IST Joe Root has denounced as “disgusting” the racist abuse that Jofra Archer received on social media during his period of self-isolation, but has backed him to come out all guns blazing in the third Test after bowling at “the speed of light” in England’s practice sessions. Archer was a late omission from last week’s 113-run victory over West Indies after it was revealed that he had broken…
8:34 PM IST Ben Stokes could play the series decider against West Indies in Old Trafford as a specialist batsman due to injury. Stokes became the first seam-bowling all-rounder since 2004 to deliver more than 20 overs and face more than 400 deliveries at Old Trafford. While his performance helped England secure victory, it also left him with a stiff quad muscle. As a result, England will delay naming their…
7:00 PM IST Press Trust of India New Zealand Cricket (NZC) will issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to each of the six New Zealand players contracted with IPL franchises, but said that “due diligence” on health safety protocols will have to be done by the players themselves. The players contracted with the IPL this year are Kane Williamson (SRH), Lockie Ferguson (KKR), James Neesham (KXIP), Mitchell Santner (CSK) and the…
Ben Stokes bowls in the nets before the third Test © Gareth Copley/Getty Images Big picture Maybe this Test cricket lark has some legs after all. Two matches in as many weeks, two pulsating fifth-day finishes, one victory apiece and the promise of more to come. The series in a bubble is bubbling up nicely as the decider looms – once again at Emirates Old Trafford, where Ben Stokes’ most…
Fantasy Picks – Keep your eyes on Jofra Archer and Kraigg Brathwaite (9:28) Daren Ganga believes Archer will have a point to prove after cropping public criticism (9:28) 6:34 PM IST ESPNcricinfo staff England v West Indies, Third Test , Old Trafford Our XI: Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Joe Root, Roston Chase, Shamarh Brooks, Ben Stokes, Shane Dowrich (wk), Jason Holder, Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, James Anderson NOTE: We might…
Rahul Dravid thinks too much intensity is not a good thing for any cricketer; know when to switch off, he advises 6:14 PM IST ESPNcricinfo staff One of the defining characteristics of India’s former captain and current National Cricket Academy head Rahul Dravid was his intense focus. Can such powers of concentrations be developed? Can you also overdo it? How do you learn to switch off? What is success really…
Mignon Du Preez and Dane van Niekerk lead their team in celebration after defeating England 4:43 PM IST The South African national women’s squad will return to training on Sunday. The week-long camp at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria will serve as preparation for their proposed tour of England in September. Cricket South Africa (CSA) are still in the process of seeking government clearance for the tour, but are…